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School spending should actually fund reforms

Over the past few years, school officials have repeatedly decried the education reforms that they claimed were unfunded. This year, schools are getting a not-insignificant budget increase. As lawmakers provide it, they should ensure the money actually goes to pay for the reforms school officials have often used to justify increased appropriations.

This requires making specific line-item appropriations. While lawmakers often grant spending discretion to local officials, legislators will no doubt line-item expenditures for National Board Certified Teacher stipends and school employee health insurance premiums, among other things. There's no justification for putting that safeguard in place for those expenditures but not for others that could have a massive impact on children's learning.

Take the third-grading reading requirement set to take effect. The Oklahoma Policy Institute estimates the law could require up to $31 million for reading intervention to ensure its effectiveness. Lawmakers should specify how much of this year's $2.4 billion public-schools appropriation will be used for that purpose. The same thing should be done regarding remediation costs associated with graduation tests students must pass to receive a high school diploma.

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The Oklahoman Editorial Board consists of Gary Pierson, President and CEO of The Oklahoma Publishing Company; Christopher P. Reen, president and publisher of The Oklahoman; Kelly Dyer Fry, editor and vice president of news; Christy Gaylord...